CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE TO THE FANS

BURTON Albion chairman Ben Robinson has sent a message to the club’s supporters ahead of the Brewers fixture against Derby County on Saturday.

Albion are facing relegation back to League One and the chairman is urging all supporters to back the club, the manager and the players.

The Brewers have enjoyed an unprecedented period of success over the last 10 years rising from non-league to the second tier of English football despite having the smallest stadium, resources and support in the Championship.

The chairman said: “I’m sure all our fans will agree that it has been a great journey and just to rub shoulders with former European Champions and play at some of the biggest stadiums in the country is a privilege we never thought we would have at Burton Albion.

“But we have to accept that it was always going to be an almighty challenge to compete at this level. It was only in 2009 that we joined the Football League and we have now had more seasons in the Championship than we have had in League One.

“At Championship level the budgets, stadiums, fanbases and histories of the clubs we are facing put us at a major disadvantage. Week-in, week-out we are having to punch so far above our weight that it’s a near impossible task.

“The fact that we have managed to do that and record some fantastic results over the course of two seasons is testament to the incredible hard work that everyone has put in at this football club.

“I hope all of our supporters understand the enormous effort that has been made by the manager, the coaching staff and the players to try and bridge the great chasm between us and the rest of this league.

“If we don’t manage to generate another miracle then we will accept that we have done our very best and we will do what the club has always done – be sensible and look to carry on building for the future.”